Miniature rose plant named `Dilly Dilly`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Dilly Dilly`, which is characterized by its blooms which range in color from near Rose Purple to near Magnolia Purple, usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy quantities of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as a mauve.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foliage.

It is very fragrant.

The plant ranges in height from 15 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer that does well eitherin the green house or outdoors.

The plant has a good growth habit, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size.

The seed parent was Chrysler Imperial (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,528), andthe pollen parent was a seedling of Plum Duffy (Miniature Rose Plant,mauve; Cecilia Bennett; introduced by Tiny Petals Nursery, 1978) andMagic Carrousel (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,601). It differs from its seedparent in the following ways. It is a miniature of the mauveclassification, whereas Chrysler Imperial is a deep red hybrid tea. Itdiffers from its pollen parents in the following ways. It is lightershape of mauve than Plum Duffy, and Magic Carrousel is a red blend withno mauve tones.

The descriptive matter which follows, pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough August 1985. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

The color photograph illustrates the variety.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Dilly Dilly`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart,except where common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, green house or outdoor, decorative andexhibition potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Dilly Dilly.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors or green house grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Variable in length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter andsturdy; ranging in color from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/2 page 176)to near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 175) with some tinting ofbronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located overthe entire surface of the peduncle and sepals, but not present on thecalyx tube.

Calyx.--Color ranging from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/3 page 176) tonear Scheeles Green (860 to 860/3 page 175).

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 60 mm).

Petalage.--Full -- averaging 25 to 35 petals, arranged regularly, pluspetaloids (6 to 10 or more).

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain atfirst somewhat tightly cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexedoutward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped; and the petalsreflexed more tightly (quilling), until each row of petals forms a fivepointed star.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a very broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate form with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughAugust 1985), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals.--Upper surface -- Ranging from near Rose Purple (533/2 to533/1 page 140) to near Magnolia Purple (030/3 to 030/2 page 114) with atip of near Mimosa Yellow (602/3 to 602/1 page 143). Under Surface --Same as the upper surfaces.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers are rich shades of near RosePurple to near Magnolia Purple which fade only slightly in tone as thebloom matures, usually 5 to 7 days or more.

Flower longevity.--(March through August 1985) Plant in pot 4 to 7 daysfrom bud with sepals reflexed to fully opened bloom. Holding at fullyopened with gradual fading of color tones for 5 to 7 days or longer. Cutblooms at living room temperature 3 to 5 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; reddish in color with yellow anthers.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, abundant and spreading; reddish styles with pale yellowcaps.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--One to five or more per hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, eventuallyrecurves against the peduncle.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for aminiature rose plant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze, especiallynoticeable on the newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/2 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 175) on the newer foliage withoccasional bronzing of the margins, especially on the newer foliage. Theupper surfaces have a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have amatte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to average width; taperingauricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bushy; large for a miniature rose plant.

Growth.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2page 175) to near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/3 page 187).

Thorns.--Averaging 5 to 10 cm on the main stems and fewer on thebranches. Reddish in color with occasional tinting of bronze. Small toaverage in size; slender and straight.

Branches.--Color -- Same as the main stems.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown in Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Dilly Dilly` of a hardy, dwarf, moderate growth,well-branched and attractive appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its blooms which range in color fromnear Rose Purple to near Magnolia Purple, easily asexually reproducedfrom cuttings, with flowers borne usually one to a stem, butoccasionally in sprays of 3 to 5 or more.